Pipe cleaner



July 4 l939- M. F. LYoNs E'rAl.. 2,164,856

PIPE CLEANER Fil'ed March 18, 1937 Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFCE PIPE CLEANER don, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 18,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a pipe cleaner, and it is primarily an objectof the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be employedWith advantage in cleaning either the stem or the neck portion of apipe.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindcomprising an elongated strand of material surrounded by a spun cleaningfabric together with an enlargement carried by an end portion of thestrand, said enlargement being of yieldable material and also coveredwith a spun cleaning fabric, said enlargement being particularlydesigned for the cleaning of the neck of the bowl of the pipe while theremaining portion of the device is intended for insertion through thestem.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved pipecleaner whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler,

less expensive and otherwise more convenient` and advantageous for use,as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of o-ur invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that our invention may be the better understood, we will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a pipe cleaner constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of our invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View in section of the end portionof the device provided with the enlargement;

Figure 2a is an enlarged sectional View taken through the upper portionof Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View illustrating another embodiment of ourinvention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating still anotherembodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is'a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an additionalembodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another embodimentof the invention;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating a still furtherembodiment of the invention.

Our improved pipe cl-eaner as herein disclosed comprises an elongatedcylindrical strand of wire 1937, Serial No. 131,744

(Cl. ISL-13) I of desired gauge and approximately eight inches inlength. 'Adjacent toi one end the strand i is surrounded by an-enlargement 2 in the form of a truncated cone with its smaller enddisposed outwardly toward the adjacent end of the strand or wire i. Thisenlargement 2 is made oi suitable yielding material, such as spongerubber, although we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselvesto this particular material. The strand of wire I together with theenlargement 2. are cased by a laminationl 3 of suitable spun fabric.This lamination i is also an absorbent material whereby the desiredcleaning action of the device is materially facilitated.

In practice, the cased enlargement 2 is employed to clean out the neckportion of a pipe while the cased portions of the wire strand l. areused for cleaning out the stem of the pipe. The cased portion of thestrand of wire l in advance of the enlargement 2 is particularlyintended for insertion through the port or channel which connects theneck of a pipe directly with the bowl.

In lieu of a single strand of wire there can also be employed, asillustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, two wires I of requisite gaugewrapped or twisted one around the other. The strands of the lamination 3surrounding the strand I will interlock therewith as permitted by theresilient spiral peripheral channel resulting from the twisting of thewires.

In the embodiment of our invention as illustrated in Figure 5, theenlargement 2" is entirely made of woven or spun strands similar tothose comprised in the spun or woven lamination 3 with said enlargement2" and lamination 3" being permanently connected although, asillustrated in Figure 6, the enlargement l!a may be formed separatelyfrom the lamination 3e.

In the invention as illustrated in Figure 7 at a point in closeproximity to the enlargement 2b the lamination 3b is cut away to borefor a short distance the strand or strands lb so that when desired aperson may readily break off the strand or strands Ib at this bared part4 so that the major portion of the strand or Strands ib will beseparated from the enlargement 2b whereby the stem cleaner may be drawncompletely through the stem of the pipe.

In Figure 8 is illustrated an embodiment of our invention wherein theenlargement 2c is hollow but covered with a lamination 3c of desiredwoven material possessing desir-ed qualifications. This enlargement 2Gis preferably of rubber and has its smaller end portion solid, as at 5,for a considera-ble distance, said portion 5 being of rubber throughwhich the strand or strands Ic are pinioned. In this embodiment of theinvention the enlargement 2c can be freely introduced and removed withrespect to various size bores in the neck portions of pipes and byhaving the solid rubber portion 5 this enlargement ZG does not have tobe interwoven or otherwise positively connected to the strand or strandsle.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a pipecleaner constructed in accordance with our invention is particularlywell adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility withwhich it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious thatour invention is susceptible of some change and modification withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason wedo not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precisearrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout our invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

l. A pipe cleaner comprising an elongatled strand, an enlargement ofyielding material surrounding the strand adjacent to an end thereof, anda lamination of woven fabric casing the strand and the enlargement, thelamination being so constructed and applied as to allow disjoinder ofthe enlargement on the strand from the remaining portion of the strand.

2. A pipe cleaner comprising an elongated strand, an enlargement ofyielding material surrounding the strand adjacent to an end thereof, anda lamination of Woven fabric casing the strand and the enlargement, thestrand interlocking with the material of the enlargement and thelamination.

3. A pipe cleaner comprising an elongated strand, an enlargement ofyielding material. surrounding the strand adjacent to an end thereof,

and a lamination of woven fabric casing the strand and the enlargement,the enlargement being hollow and having a solid end portion throughwhich the strand is pinioned.

4. A pipe cleaner comprising an elongated. strand, an enlargement ofyielding material surrounding the strand adjacent to an end thereof, anda lamination of woven fabric casing the strand and the enlargement, saidstrand comprising wires twisted one about the other and engaging thematerial of the enlargement and the lamination.

5. A pipe cleaner comprising an elongated strand, and a lamination ofwoven fabric casing the strand, one end portion of the strand havingmeans to facilitate the use of the cleaner' in a pipe neck, thelamination adjacent to the end portion carrying such means beingseparated to permit separation of said end portion from the remainder ofthe strand.

5. A pipe cleaner comprising an elongated strand carrying cleaningmeans, said strand at a predetermined point intermediate its ends beingso constructed and arranged to permit separation of one end portion` ofthe strand.

'7. A pipe cleaner comprising an elongated strand, a yieldingenlargement carried by the strand, and a lamination of woven fabriccasing the strand,.said"lamination being so constructed and applied asto allow disjoinder of the enlargement on the strand from the remainingportion of the strand.

8. A pipe cleaner comprising an elongated' strand, an enlargement ofyielding material surrounding the strand, and a lamination of wovenfabric casing both the strand and the enlargement, said enlargementbeing elongated and in the general form` of a truncated cone.

MAURICE FRMTCIS LYONS. BRAND KAPLAN.

y CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent 2,16Lh856. July )4, 1959.

' MAURICE FRANCIS Lyons, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneouslyissued to the inventors, said "Lyons" and "Kaplan", as assignors, bydirect and me sne assignments, of one-half' to Murray R. Haddon, whereassaid patent should have been issued to Brand Kaplanl and Murray R.Haddon, as assignees by direct and mesne assignments of one-halfinterest each in said invention, as shown by the record of assignmentsin this office; and thatthe said Letters Patent shouldbe read withvthiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of' the casein the Pat-ent Office.

signed and sealed this 22nd day cf August, A. D.. 1959.

Leslie Frazer (seal) l Acting commissioner of Patents.

